The Nativity Fast

On November 15, the Holy Orthodox Church begins its preparation to celebrate our Lord's incarnation. Our Lord's taking on human flesh and the celebration of the Theophany a little more than a week later are but the mere beginning of our Lord's mercy to save us from the passions which consume us every day. But in order to feast and celebrate, we must first fast and prepare. This fasting must never be done in a manner to draw attention to ourselves, nor should we do so with sadness, but with joy. Fasting is a discipline that must be accompanied by prayer. Without prayer our fasting is only dieting. And we should not only fast from food, we should also fast from other pleasures. For me, I'm taking a break from the internet, save for email so I will not be writing anything again (not that I've been writing much lately) until Nativity. I will be using the extra time to devote to more reading and prayer. This is not a meritorious activity. I do it not to earn points with God but because God has done so much for me that a break from certain foods, TV and internet is really but a small recompense.

For those of you who are about to enter the fast, I wish you well. We must remember that most of our fellow Christians, even our fellow Orthodox Christians do not observe the fast. We must remember St. Paul's advice that we are not to judge because one brother eats meat and another doesn't.

Many still believe that in spite of what I just wrote that fasting is nothing more than a legalism. I challenge you to prove that. I also am reprinting these words from antiochian.org which give a brief synopsis on what fasting is and isn't. I shall return on Nativity when I hope you will rejoice with me, chanting: Christos Gennetai! Blessed fast.

The Purpose of Fasting

The purpose of fasting is to focus on the things that are above, the Kingdom of God. It is a means of putting on virtue in reality, here and now. Through it we are freed from dependence on worldly things. We fast faithfully and in secret, not judging others, and not holding ourselves up as an example.

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Fasting in itself is not a means of pleasing God. Fasting is not a punishment for our sins. Nor is fasting a means of suffering and pain to be undertaken as some kind of atonement. Christ already redeemed us on His Cross. Salvation is a gift from God that is not bought by our hunger or thirst.
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We fast to be delivered from carnal passions so that God’s gift of Salvation may bear fruit in us.
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We fast and turn our eyes toward God in His Holy Church. Fasting and prayer go together.
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Fasting is not irrelevant. Fasting is not obsolete, and it is not something for someone else. Fasting is from God, for us, right here and right now.
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Most of all, we should not devour each other. We ask God to “set a watch and keep the door of our lips.”

Do Not Fast

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between December 25 and January 5 (even on Wednesdays and Fridays);
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if you are pregnant or nursing a newborn;
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during serious illness;
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without prayer;
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without alms-giving;
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according to your own will without guidance from your spiritual father.